Case Study: Zurich achieves a selfie-based instant life insurance quoting app in weeks with Mendix

Zurich FaceQuote Goes from Idea to App in Weeks

Zurich UK wanted to tackle low life‑insurance takeup driven by misperceptions about cost and relevance: research showed 25% avoid cover because they think it’s too expensive, 50% don’t see it as relevant, and many overestimate monthly premiums (14% thought a healthy 40‑year‑old would pay >£40 when it can be as little as £8). To reach people who wouldn’t normally engage via brokers or conventional journeys, Zurich needed a simple, low‑friction way to spark interest and demonstrate affordability.

The solution was FaceQuote, a two‑page web/mobile app that uses a selfie to estimate age and deliver an instant monthly premium. Built on the Mendix low‑code platform by a two‑person team with agile support, the front end took four days and total development seven days, enabling rapid testing and launch. FaceQuote connects interested users to an application portal, typically reveals lower-than-expected premiums, and helps Zurich extend reach to younger, harder‑to‑engage customers while complementing existing distribution channels.

Zurich

Chris Atkinson

Head of Consumer Distribution